Rock of the highest order, recalling the heady heyday of female pop-grunge (think Juliana Hatfield, Belly, or maybe more recently even Gemma Hayes, when she lets go instead of getting all sentimental). Applause Cheer Boo Hiss is the debut album from Montreal band Land of Talk, a three-piece that has grown from singer-songwriter Elizabeth Powell to the most delicious indie - like The Cardigans mixed with some Dinosaur Jr grunge, Land of Talk deliver hooky melody, huge choruses and sexy listenability. The music doesn't just ride the great female lead vocals, it delivers real songs underneath - like one of rock's greatest losses, Jen Trynin, the guitars have an angularity, with a witty, intelligent lyric. No song outstays its welcome, the production leaves the intensity in. There is no doubt that this band should be big - even if the world only has room for one female rock act, this album is a strong argument for Land of Talk's right to that space. No PJ Harvey, Cat Power, or Duke Spirit album is as consistently compelling. Applause is a wonderful, uplifting piece of work - you'll only need to hear Sea Form or Magnetic Hill to get swept up in it. Album of the week.

ACE rating 9/10

Rock of the highest order, recalling the heady heyday of female pop-grunge (think Juliana Hatfield, Belly, or maybe more recently even Gemma Hayes, when she lets go instead of getting all sentimental). Applause Cheer Boo Hiss is the debut album from Montreal band Land of Talk, a three-piece that has grown from singer-songwriter Elizabeth Powell to the most delicious indie - like The Cardigans mixed with some Dinosaur Jr grunge, Land of Talk deliver hooky melody, huge choruses and sexy listenability. The music doesn't just ride the great female lead vocals, it delivers real songs underneath - like one of rock's greatest losses, Jen Trynin, the guitars have an angularity, with a witty, intelligent lyric. No song outstays its welcome, the production leaves the intensity in. There is no doubt that this band should be big - even if the world only has room for one female rock act, this album is a strong argument for Land of Talk's right to that space. No PJ Harvey, Cat Power, or Duke Spirit album is as consistently compelling. Applause is a wonderful, uplifting piece of work - you'll only need to hear Sea Form or Magnetic Hill to get swept up in it. Album of the week.

ACE rating 9/10

North Mississippi Allstars is a trio from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996 - two brothers, Luther and Cody Dickinson (sons of the legendary Memphis producer Jim Dickinson) and bass player Chris Chew. Since them they have brought a Robert Randolph energy to contemporary blues, provided the backing for John Hiatt and released four fantastic slow burn albums. This is their first on their own label, recorded on dad Jim Dickinson's ranch, in The Barn. It also marks something of a departure in sound. Named after their hometown, Hernando sees the band make their own soul music - the tempo's come down, and the sound links the swamp rock of Creedence Clearwater Revival and new guitar hero bands like Gov't Mule. NMA were always influenced by other Mississippi blues artists, like RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Mississippi Fred McDowell, and Luther is a mean slide player, his fluid lead adding a great timeless feel to the songs - snaking and staying just the achey side of sweet. Hernando sounds like classic rock, with some hypnotic rhythms adding interest. Stripped down and bluesy, but maybe missing a touch of the Go Team wackiness of previous albums, this is a nicely dirty few minutes.

ACE rating 8/10

Cat Power is the stage name of Chan (say 'Shawn') Marshall, a singer who has built an incredible mythology around her stripped down style. Recording since 1995, it was really 2003's You Are Free, an album of originals featuring guests such as Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder, that broke through. Jukebox is Power's second covers album, although it is the first with the Dirty Delta Blues Band, which gives it a more rounded sound that the somewhat sparse first (called The Covers Record). The band gives this album the feel of the Cowboy Junkies' Trinity Sessions mixed with some kd lang torchiness. Tracks include songs by Hank Williams, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell - there are some great selections, all made to sound like her own songs. However, that's partly because she does the same thing to each of them - they're not explored for their own essence, but for the way they can fit her sound. Any Cat Power disc's better than none, but there is more variety and more great music on The Greatest, her previous album of originals.

ACE rating 7/10